Effect of berberine on proliferation, biosynthesis of macromolecules, cell cycle and induction of intercalation with DNA, dsDNA damage and apoptosis in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells

Abstract

Our primary aim was to study berberine, a potential anti-cancer drug, for its cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity in-vitro using Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells. Cytotoxicity was measured by the growth inhibition assay. We investigated the effect of berberine on the biosynthesis of macro-molecules (DNA, RNA, proteins), cell cycle effects and induction of dsDNA damage and apoptosis in berberine-treated EAC cells. Our results showed that berberine acts cytotoxically on EAC cells. The cytotoxicity was directly concentration and time dependent. The highest cytotoxic concentrations (100 and 50 microg mL(-1)) induced intercalation of berberine with DNA, formation of dsDNA breaks, inhibition of DNA synthesis and death of EAC cells. A concentration of 10 mug mL(-1) induced clear apoptotic cell death, which was followed by inhibition of protein synthesis.

Different concentrations of berberine result in distinct cellular localization patterns and cell cycle effects in a melanoma cell line

“…Berberine has been reported to inhibit DNA synthesis [46] and induce S-phase cell cycle arrest [11]. We found Fig.…”

“…Higher concentrations of berberine resulted in a G2/M arrest, which is suggestive of a DNA damage/p53 activation response [47,48]. Although we did not directly assay DNA damage in this study, previous workers have presented evidence for berberine-induced DNA damage and p53 activation [11,38,46].…”

Berberine sensitizes TRAIL-induced apoptosis through proteasome-mediated downregulation of c-FLIP and Mcl-1 proteins

“…It has been shown to exhibit multiple pharmacological activities such as inhibition of DNA synthesis, G1 cell cycle arrest, and anticancer effect (10,11). BBR has been reported to inhibit expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), to exert anti-metastatic properties in non-small lung cancer cells, as well as to induce apoptosis via promoting the expression of caspase, apoptosisinducing factor (AIF) and endonuclease G in human tongue squamous carcinoma cancer cells (12).…”

Selective Regulation of Multidrug Resistance Protein in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells by the Isoquinoline Alkaloid Coptisine

“…42) However, in the cellular context, the aspects of whether berberine and palmatine cause DNA damage are still unclear. For example, some reports have indicated that berberine elicits DNA cleavage in cells, thereby leading to apoptosis, 43,44) while other reports have described that berberine protects against the DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide or peroxynitrite. 45,46) If isoquinoline alkaloids induce DNA or RNA damage in cells, the resulting genotoxic stress may be associated with YB-1 induction followed by MDR1 induction.…”